title: The synthesis and application of polyamino polycarboxylic bifunctional chelating agents.
abstract: Bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) are molecules which contain two different moieties: a strong metal chelating unit and a reactive functional group. The latter is directed to react with amines, thiols, alcohols or other reactive molecules to form stable covalent bonds while the chelating moiety is able to strongly coordinate a metal ion. In this way, it is possible to label a molecule of interest (e.g. an antibody or a peptide) with a metal or a radioactive metal ion. Of all the ligands reported so far, those based on a polyamino polycarboxylic structure are most efficient and are widely employed for the chelation of metal ions. The resulting metal complexes have found a broad range of applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. Diagnostic imaging (MRI, SPECT, PET), molecular imaging, tumour therapy and luminescent materials are only a few examples. The present critical review gives an overview of the syntheses and most important applications of polyamino polycarboxylic BFCAs (334 references).
authors.affiliation: Bracco Imaging SpA, Bracco Research Centre, via Ribes 5, 10010 Colleretto Giacosa (TO), Italy. luciano.lattuada@bracco.com
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lattuada
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barge
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cravotto
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Giovenzana
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tei
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000144:Acids, Acyclic / Q000737:chemistry; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000144:Acids, Acyclic; D002614:Chelating Agents; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid